Monday, June 11, 2012

Explaining the Failed Recall to My Preteen

My perceptive and compassionate preteen daughter asked me in
the wake of the failed recall of Governor Walker, “Why can’t it be like in the
movies where the good guys always win?”

This was essentially my reply to her poignant question.

“Well, dear, unlike in the feel-good movies you watch—where the grassroots efforts of the hard working,
less powerful always triumph for a happy ending—in real-life Wisconsin big money
can buy the minds of many so the good guys cannot win.

You see, honey, those endless Walker ads on billboards,
industrial-size yard signs, television, the Internet, and the radio—you know, the ones that often made me angry
because of their lies—convinced enough less-informed Wisconsinites to vote
against the good guys.

You must learn now that money matters and greatly influences
the real world. Our democracy is becoming a plutocracy—a society ruled by the
wealthy. The voices of public school teachers and other middle class workers
are being drowned out by rich forces who can afford to buy influence and
relentless advertising. This is not what
democracy looks like.

Paid for by out-of-state donors

I explained to you once that our government was formed around
the principles of majority rule and minority rights. The minority rights stuff is no longer true
in Walker’s Wisconsin and across much of America. The plutocrats and their propaganda
have been able to convince a majority that it is okay for the minority to
shoulder the majority of Wisconsin’s woes.

I know you saw me working hard—with thousands of others—protesting,
writing, canvassing, marching, and talking with friends and family over this
past year. In the movies, such noble efforts usually convince enough people to
support the good guys, but these ordinary efforts were outdone in real-life
Wisconsin by the extraordinary advertising paid for mostly by very wealthy
people and organizations outside of Wisconsin—who do not like unions, public
schools, public workers, public educators, and government (that doesn’t
directly benefit them).

Here, take a look at this statistical graph from the Washington
Post. Do you see how much more
money Walker had in this campaign than Mayor Barrett? See how Walker and his bad buddies outspent
the good guys by twice as much. This means Gov. Walker essentially had twice the
advertising as the good side. This would be like your soccer team playing
against a team with twice as many players.
Yeah, this would be unfair. Real life is unfair—unlike in the movies.

Do you remember how your mother and I taught you to think
critically about advertising? Well, many voting adults have not learned this
skill. In the recall election, enough people were convinced by Walker’s bombardment
of ads to keep him as governor. You must learn now, kiddo, to not believe
everything you see and hear in advertising (and in the movies). We need you and
the next generation to think more critically than the adults in power right
now. I am sure if more people understood more than what is said in Walker’s advertisements,
more of them would have supported our efforts to recall Walker.

You also must understand another valuable difference between
movies and real life. Heartwarming
movies always conclude with happily-ever-after finales. There are no finales in real life. The reality in this recall election is that
no one won this election. We lost. Walker lost. Wisconsin lost. The resentment, the injustice, and the
radical Tea Party agendas continue.

Wisconsin remains divided. Your dad’s favorite president, Abraham Lincoln,
once said, ‘A house divided against itself will not stand.’ While many soaked up Walker’s PR campaign in
the recall, nearly half (46%) of Wisconsinites did not. As long as Walker is in
power, Wisconsin will remain spliced.

Dividing our state might give Walker the illusion he has
conquered Wisconsin, but he is mistaken. Do not mistake Walker’s might for
right. His isHishappily-ever-after
moment will not be ever-after. Thousands of passive people became active in
this election. This engagement will live on well past this recall show. Look at yourself, young one. Think of how
much you have learned about politics, activism, and government in this past
year. You have grown from this effort. The
lessons learned in this loss will live on in you for decades.

I have always been straight with you. You must learn that in
real life, unlike in the Disney movies, things can get even worse before they
get better. I worry where Wisconsin is headed now. Your mom’s and my work
climates will be much more demanding in the coming months as we will be doing
more, with less, and for less. I worry about the future of public education and
my profession in the hands of leaders who are supported by anti-public education
groups. The ripple effects of Walker’s bomb will continue to adversely
affect our family budget, you and your sisters’ lifestyles, long-term plans we
have made, the businesses we frequent, the employees of those businesses, and
the families of those employees. Until Wisconsin gets leadership that recognizes
we are all on the same team, we’ll continue to add acts to this ongoing tragedy.

Even though I’ve been dissing on movies for the past five
minutes, I do not want to squelch your interest in feel-good stories. Heartwarming
movies help us dream of a better world and consequently a better Wisconsin.Do not ever lose your youthful desire for a better society. Do not let others
portray your hopeful desires as radical. You are such a perceptive young
person. Be proud of your powerful sense of justice. Feel free to dream the
American dream of a better society that moves all people forward.”

Disclaimer

The contents and views on this blog are not necessarily representative of the blogger's employer, union, and/or coworkers. This blog's content and views are solely attributed to this blog's author and contributing writers.

Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (First Amendment, U.S. Constitution)